The Day a Black Cat Crossed My Path
Whether or not you're
superstitious, this story'll fill you will thrills and -- chills!
- \\It was a beautiful spring day, only about a year ago. The sky was clear and blue,
and the sun was shining brightly. But across the earth there were many people shouting,
'THIS IS THE DAY THE WORLD WILL END!" There was a special group of people who
believed that on this very day, the world would be no more.
And on this same day, I was jetting my way to Japan for a singing tour -- flying
more than 20,000 feet in the air. As I explained to Elaine Moss, Teen World's
Editor, I didn't believe the world would end. I felt everything would be all right.
I was going to Japan for a singing tour. And I couldn't have been happier -- or
luckier. My manger, Frankie Day, and my dad were with me. When we finally landed and
gathered our luggage, my dad got us a taxi. (They have taxis as well as rickshaws in Japan
nowadays!)
Just as we were about to get into the cab, a big and very black cat crossed
my path by walking right in front of me. In fact, the cat jumped into the cab on one side
and then right out the other! I started to laugh.
"Maybe that's a sign," Frankie Day said -- half seriously, "that the
world really is going to end today, Bobby. You know that when a black cat crosses your
path, it means bad luck."
"Don't be ridiculous, Frankie," I said, "That's all a lot of
nonsense! I'm not superstitious! I don't believe in thing like not walking under ladders
or throwing salt over my shoulder if I spill some."
And that, for the time being, was that! We got to the hotel and registered. After
the long flight we'd had , we were all pretty tired. So right after dinner -- which we ate
Japanese style with chop sticks, of course -- we all went up to our rooms and hit the
sack.
I slept soundly for a few hours --
Then suddenly something really weird -- and a little scary -- happened. It was
almost midnight. The room was so dark I couldn't see a thing. But I woke up because all of
a sudden, I thought I was moving, or being pushed -- or something! First I thought I was
dreaming or sick or dizzy from the flight, but when I turned on the light, I found that my
bed was no longer where it'd been when I'd gone to sleep! It was at the opposite side of
the room!
Just as I was about to get up, my manager burst into my room, yelling, "Did you
feel it, Bobby? The shaking, I mean. Maybe those people who said the world was coming to
an end were right! What do you think about that and the black cat now?
"You're not going to see me believing that, Frankie," I said. "I'm
sure there's a logical reason. But right now, I can't say what. I think I'll call the desk
clerk and ask him."
And this is the conversation that took place.
ME: Hello, desk? This is Bobby Rydell in room 711. Could you please answer a
question for me? My bed just this moment went sliding. An did didn't push it! What's
happening around here?
CLERK: Well, Sir, could you please tell me in which direction your bed slid?
ME: It went straight across the room.
CLERK (laughing a little): Then everything okay. You have to worry only if bed go
side to side -- or if it go up and not come down!
From the little joke the clerk played on me and from the tone of his voice, I
gathered there was really nothing to worry about.
Still, Frankie and my dad kept saying maybe the world was ending slowly. Of
course, they were only kidding. We all learned the next morning that it was really a small
earthquake what'd shaken us up! Simple, but a little upsetting. Anyway, my luck was
terrific through the whole Japanese tour (black cat or not). I enjoyed every minute
of being there!
And as they say in Japan, rotsa ruck to you all, too!
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